Reclaiming water system for commericial kitchens

ABSTRACT

A reclaiming water system for use in a dishwashing system is disclosed. The reclaiming water system includes a collection means, a storage means, and a distribution means thereby enabling the reclaiming water system to supply batch dishwasher station gray water to a pre-rinse station where the batch dishwasher station gray water can be reused in the pre-rinsing of dishes saving the use of fresh water.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to the washing of dishes within commercial restaurants or the like where a significant volume of soiled dishes need to be rinsed prior to insertion into an automated washing device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Commercial dish washing machines prove beneficial in commercial kitchens which are capable of producing a high volume of soiled dishes. Operation of a restaurant or foodservice business is challenged with ensuring that kitchen operations run smoothly reducing potential bottlenecks to ensure productivity. One concerning area relating to bottlenecks in the kitchen is the efficient production of washing dishes.

Many solutions have been introduced to ensure a productive and efficient dish washing process including the introduction of dish washing systems. These dish washing systems are similar in nature to manufacturing assembly lines where the cleaning of soiled dishes is broken down into individual washing stations where each station separately performs a task associated with cleaning soiled dishes. It is common that these washing stations include a pre-rinse station whereby a high pressure swing nozzle is provided over a sink and used to pre-rinse debris from each soiled dish and a dish washing station whereby the soiled dishes are further cleaned in a semi-automated process which includes loading and unloading batches of pre-rinsed soiled dishes to be washed within the dish washing station.

A typical configuration of a dish washing station comprises of a chamber located within, a plurality of pumps and nozzles used to circulate water along with washing and a series of tanks for storing washing liquid and hot water. The washing liquid often comprises of a plurality of soaps and rinsing agents. In use, the dish washing stations spray high pressure water and washing liquid at the dishes in the effort to clean. This spraying action occurs through a series of cycles where water and washing liquid maybe alternately introduced. Discharging of used washing liquid and water occurs after each cycle and upon completing the series of cycles the dishes are clean and removed from the chamber.

An additional consideration relating to commercial kitchens includes the consumption of water and costs thereof. Commercial dish washing station equipment manufacturers continually introduce dish washing station equipment that use less water. Often this is accomplished through the storage and re-use of washing liquid within the dish washing station. Although these water saving solutions have reduced the overall water required by the dish washing stations they still dispose of between one (1) to five (5) gallons of grey water per cycle of completed dishes washed by the dish washing station depending on the size of the dish washing station.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is for use in a dish washing system for commercial kitchens whereby a reclaiming water system is introduced. The reclaiming water system is smartly configured such that the grey water disposed by the batch dishwasher station is reclaimed into a storage tank.

One more particularly innovative aspect of the present invention relates to the distribution enabling reuse of the batch dishwasher grey water in a pre-rinse station whereby high pressure swing nozzle is provided over a sink and used to pre-rinse debris from each soiled dish.

Another particularly innovative aspect of the present invention is realized upon successful distribution and reuse of the batch dishwasher grey water by the pre-rinse station in that the pre-rinse station no longer requires fresh water to pre-rinse debris from each soiled dish thereby saving water.

Another particularly innovative aspect of the present invention is that the grey water disposed by the batch dishwasher station includes washing liquid which aids in the pre-rinse process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings that form a part of the specification and that are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view a dish washing system as disclosed herein;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a reclaiming water system;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of a reclaiming water system;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description.

The overall purpose of the reclaiming water system described herein is to save water. The advantages of the reclaiming water system can be fully realized when implemented in a dish washing system (100) as represented in (FIG. 1). Additionally the dish washing system (100) includes a pre-rinse station (102) and a batch dishwasher station (103). The pre-rinse station (102) further includes a high pressure swing nozzle (105) that is easily actuated by a valve (106) included therein that when actuated high pressure water is supplied by hot and cold supply lines (101) typically located under the pre-rinse station (102). When the batch dishwasher station (103) is in use the batch dishwasher station (103) is supplied fresh water and pre-rinsed dishes to wash as a cycle. Upon completion of a cycle where the dishes are clean, the batch dishwasher station (103) gray water is disposed of by the discharge hose (107) at a rate of one (1) to five (5) gallons per cycle, depending on the size and make of the batch dishwasher station (103) and the amount of dishes being cleaned in a cycle. Additionally notable in FIG. 1 is the open rack area (104) which is available, but not required, for the reclaiming water system (200) as represented in FIG. 2. An additional hose (not shown) may also be supplied to connect to the discharge hose (107) providing a means to transport the batch dishwasher station (103) gray water from the batch dishwasher station (103) to the reclaiming water system (200).

As represented in FIG. 2, the reclaiming water system (200) is a storage means which can be mounted by a rail (201) within a batch dishwasher station (103) as represented in FIG. 1. The reclaiming water system (200) includes a collection means which comprises of an intake strainer (202) which is configured to receive between one (1) and five (5) gallons of batch dishwater gray water per cycle and can be smartly configured about the top of the reclaiming water system (200) as to align the intake strainer (202) with the discharge hose (FIG. 1: 107) of the batch dishwasher system (103) such that batch dishwasher system (103) gray water maybe supplied to the reclaiming water system (200). On first use of the reclaiming water system (200) or in the event the reclaiming water system (200) is dry a fresh water replenishing valve (207) is mountably connected to the reclaiming water system (200) and a fresh water supply such that in the event the batch dishwasher station (103) is not in use water can be supplied to the reclaiming water system (200) in which implementation is connected by way of a connection means to the supply lines of the pre-rinse station (102). When water supply is demanded by the actuation of the valve (106) mounted within the nozzle the distribution means which comprises of a supply pump (205) is smartly configured to begin pumping batch dishwasher station (103) gray water from the reclaiming water system (200) by way of a connection means which includes a tee line connector connecting the line braided stainless steel hose connecting to the hot and cold supply lines (101) typically located under the pre-rinse station (102) supply and when operated enabling batch dishwasher station (103) gray water to be used in the pre-rinsing of a soiled dish. As pre-rinsing of soiled dishes use the batch dishwasher station (103) gray water, fresh water is saved.

An overflow discharge port is represented in FIG. 3, where the overflow port (301) is operably connected to the reclaiming water system (300) and a discharge means (302) which consists of a pipe. The discharge means (302) is enabled to connect to a drain such that in the event the reclaiming water system (300) is full the overflow port (301) is specifically designed to enable the excess batch dishwasher gray water to be drained. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A reclaiming water system for commercial kitchens, the system comprising: a collection means for collecting batch dishwasher station gray water; as storage means for storing the collected batch dishwasher station gray water; and a distribution means for distributing the batch dishwasher station gray water for reuse.
 2. A reclaiming water system for commercial kitchens of claim 2, wherein the distribution means further comprises of a connection means that enables the delivery of the gray water to a pre-rinse station.
 3. A reclaiming water system for commercial kitchens of claim 3, wherein the water pressure produced by the distribution means is matched with the water pressure specifications of the pre-rinse station.
 4. A reclaiming water system for commercial kitchens, the system comprising: a collection means for collecting batch dishwasher station gray water; as storage means for storing the collected batch dishwasher station gray water; and a distribution means for distributing the batch dishwasher station gray water for reuse whereby the reclaiming water system for commercial kitchens is saving at least a half a gallon of water per cycle of batch dishwasher station. 